BED LINEN
Wealthy
medieval households spun and wove their own bed linen which was stored in huge
oak linen presses smelling sweetly of wood ruff and lavender. Bed linen was
considered so precious it was included in wedding dowries and wills; rich
travelers took their sheets and pillows with them when they went to stay with
friends. And while embroidered silk 'over sheets' adorned royal beds, practical
linen sheets went underneath. Satin sheets were reputed to have made a brief
appearance in Tudor times in Britain through the auspices of Anne Boleyn who
brought them back from France.
However, cotton sheets were not introduced
until the end of the eighteenth century and remained white throughout the
nineteenth century, although the edges were often elaborately embroidered and
trimmed with lace and ribbons. It was not until the 1960s that deep- dyed
colors and sumptuous floral printed cotton bed linen first appeared; duvets
from Germany and Scandinavia were also introduced and revolutionized styles in
modern bed linen.
Styles and fabrics Bed lien should be seen as part of the
whole bedroom scheme. Colors, styles and patterns in duvets and pillowcases
should match, complement or contrast with other bedroom furnishings such as the
curtains, blinds or a bedspread.
It also helps to
think of successful combinations: pure, crisp white cotton sheets with delicate
lace, scalloped or picot edges always look marvelous against rich mahogany or
walnut bedheads and Empire-style beds. Flower-sprigged cotton duvets and
valance frills are pretty and practical on a divan in a young girl's room or a spare
bedroom. Sheets and pillowcases patterned with bold cabbage roses can
complement a white lace and crochet bedspread or perhaps co-ordinate with a
smaller geometric trellis, a striped bedspread and matching curtains or an
Austrian blind.
Sofa beds in a living room, study or one- room apartment could
have a set of bed linen that 160 complements the upholstery: midnight-blue
sheets and pillowcases with a light quilt in a bold paisley pattern could
either match or co-ordinate with the sofa covers. By making your own bed linen,
you can add special decorative touches, making it truly individual- details
such as tucking and cording in a contrasting color for pillowcase and sheet
borders.
Borders of coordinating fabrics or plain fabrics in a contrasting
color also look attractive. A time-honored favorite is to have plain sheets and
pillowcases discreetly monogrammed in satin stitch with your initials. A few
embroidered flowers, leaves or bows do wonders for a plain white pillowcase
corner.
